Ronchamp by Le Corbusier

1. RONCHAMP
By Le Corbusier
ADHIRAJ BHATTACHARYA

2. LE CORBUSIER
Born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret
October 6, 1887 La Chaux-de-Fonds,
Switzerland
Died August 27, 1965 (aged 77)
Nationality Swiss / French (from 1930)
Influenced Oscar Niemeyer, Richard Meier
Awards AIA Gold Medal (1961)
Buildings Villa Savoye, France
Notre Dame du Haut, France
Buildings in Chandigarh, India

3. RONCHAMP – 1955 ( Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut )

4. The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut located in Ronchamp, was a catholic
pilgrimage center dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Chapel suffered a
voracious fire in 1913, consequently was rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style. In 1944,
was bombarded by the Nazis.
HISTORY

5. In 1950, Le
Corbusier accepted
rebuilt of the
chapel.
After five years of
technical difficulties
and the constant
critic, is finished in
June 1955.
HISTORY

6. CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Reinforced Concrete
CLIMATE Temperate
CONTEXT Rural, Mountains
STYLE Expressionist Modern
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Simplicity Oblong nave
Two side entrances Axial main alter
Three chapels Three towers
Beton brut roof Exterior alter
Sculpture of the Virgin Mary
Southern facing wall of windows
INTRODUCTION

7. SITE

8. SITE
Approach
route of the
chapel is from
the Southeast.
Chapel is
placed at the
high point on
an East West
axis.

10. THE BELLS

11. THE RESIDENCY FOR CLERGY

12. THE MONUMENT OF PEACE

13. Large Embrasures on south wall represent
the Corvus, Libra Constellation
The upper two tiers of the interior
windows of the South wall as the Virgo
constellation
DESIGN THEORIES

14. That Le Corbusier based his design off
of praying hands, a ship, a bird, a nuns
cowl
Le Corbusier superimposed Ronchamp II
over Ronchamp I

15. THE DESIGN

16. PLAY OF LIGHT

17. THE LIGHT FROM HEAVENS
SHINING OVER THE
CHAPELS

18. Door panels consist of open
hand, star, pyramid,
meandering river, rain, and
clouds
Eight panels
Red and blue symbolize
opposites
DECORATIONS

20. The structure is made mostly of concrete and is comparatively small, enclosed
by thick walls, with the upturned roof supported on columns embedded within
the walls.
A 6 cm concrete shell
B 10 x 30 cm cast in place lower
beams
C 17 cm thick girders
D 5 x 27 cm pre cast upper roof
beams
E Roof deck 4 cm thick
F Scupper for rainwiater dranage
STRUCTURE

21. Some pictures of the Chapel while under construction in the early 1950’s.
CONSTRUCTION